JACOBS REACTS TO PLAZA REDO

Jacobs ‘pleased’ with new Plaza de Panama

Irwin Jacobs isn’t a sore loser when it comes to getting the cars out of the center of Balboa Park.

He pronounced himself “very pleased” with Mayor Bob Filner’s scaled back changes, but he still holds out hope for further additions.

Jacobs, who commented on the park’s Plaza de Panama at the end of a recent interview on his latest contributions to the downtown Central Library, had proposed a $45 million plan in 2010 to make the center of the park largely car-free.

But a judge turned down the plan earlier this year, and Jacobs gave up on his campaign after having spent about $8 million in planning and legal fees.

However, his Plaza de Panama Committee has appealed the judge’s ruling, as has his chief opponent, the Save Our Heritage Organisation, although on different grounds. It may be many months, if not years, before there’s a final ruling and even if the Jacobs plan is upheld, it’s unclear whether he would renew his financial support.

For now, Jacobs said Filner’s plan to remove the 60-odd parking spaces from the plaza has accomplished what he had hoped would happen. The plaza has reopened to the public after it was resurfaced with a cream-colored coating. Weekend strollers, joggers and visitors generally applauded the car-free conditions.

“I saw it in its not-quite-finished condition,” Jacobs said. “It’s a great plaza. I’m very pleased to see it cleared.”

However, he reserved judgment to see how traffic flows change when the Cabrillo Bridge closes, as Filner plans, on weekends and holidays, starting Sept. 7. The bridge is scheduled to be closed completely to motorists for several months early next year while Caltrans makes repairs to the roadbed.

Jacobs said he hopes his proposed 800-space parking garage south of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the regrading of the lot south of the Alcazar Garden might come to pass.